Manchester United host West Ham United at Old Trafford tonight in what promises to be a significant Premier League encounter.
Shea Lacey made the matchday squad against Everton and Crystal Palace but, despite growing anticipation, his long-awaited debut did not arrive.
The teenage talent is expected to be included again, especially with Benjamin Sesko and Harry Maguire ruled out through injury.
Manager Ruben Amorim was asked how he prepares young prospects like Lacey to step into the intensity of Premier League football.
Amorim said (via ManUtd.com): “First of all, trying to explain every day how to play, because if you are comfortable, you have not many doubts when you are playing, that will help the kids to play.
“Then it’s towards the physicality, to understand that when he’s training with us, give him time with us, to understand that the speed of the pressure, the moment to have the ball, to pass the ball, it’s completely different, if you compare to Under-21s.
“So, that is the only way that I know how to prepare a kid to play for a club, especially for this club.
Amorim also confirmed that Lacey is now ready to play, sending a buzz to the United faithful.
“So, we’ll have to go there, to have the chance. I don’t know when, but he’s ready to play.”
Shea Lacey could be one for the future
The 18-year-old is a natural right-winger with a habit of drifting inside, slicing through defensive lines before threading a killer pass or taking aim at goal.
He looks tailor-made for the right-sided number 10 position but making the jump to Premier League football requires mental steel as much as talent.
Lacey could have made his senior breakthrough much earlier but he suffered unfortunate injuries.
Now fully fit and looking sharp, he appears ready to seize his moment.
He was recently part of the England U20s but impressed so much that Thomas Tuchel invited him to train with the senior national squad.
Amorim has been cautious about promoting academy players but tomorrow could be the moment that narrative changes.
Lacey has now experienced two league games from the bench, giving him a front-row view of the intensity gap between youth football and the Premier League.
He is also likely to play a vital role in the coming weeks, when Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo depart for Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) duty.